The organization was founded to fulfill a prophecy that "the human race's future lies in the sea." Their secret plan is to genetically engineer humans with aquatic adaptations. Meanwhile, they would allow the melting of polar ice caps to flood a substantial land area, which they believe to be an inevitable consequence of global warming. Then, only the modified humans could survive in (formerly) coastal habitats.

The organization was founded to fulfill a prophecy that "the human race's future lies in the sea." Their secret plan is to genetically engineer humans with aquatic adaptations. Meanwhile, they would allow the melting of polar ice caps to flood a substantial land area, which they believe to be an inevitable consequence of global warming. Then, only the modified humans could survive in (formerly) coastal habitats.

−

<span id="phase1">In '''phase 1'''</span>, the organization would begin research and development while spreading propaganda. They [[wikipedia:Climate change denial|profess opposition]] to the [[wikipedia:Scientific opinion on climate change|scientific consensus on global warming]]; though they admit that [http://slashdot.org/story/12/07/29/127235/koch-bros-study-finds-global-warming-is-real-and-man-made some global warming is anthropogenic], they believe the problem is overstated. (For example, they may mention that [http://arctic.atmos.uiuc.edu/cryosphere/ unlike the Arctic, the Antarctic ice cap is not significantly losing mass and may even be gaining it].<!-- see specifically plots at http://arctic.atmos.uiuc.edu/cryosphere/IMAGES/seaice.anomaly.arctic.png and http://arctic.atmos.uiuc.edu/cryosphere/IMAGES/seaice.anomaly.antarctic.png; these are automatically generated on a monthly(?) basis --> They would make an [[wikipedia:argument from authority|argument from authority]], saying they are [http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/05/28/global-warming-skeptics-know-more-about-science-new-study-claims/ "smart enough" to know that global warming is not a serious problem].)

+

<span id="phase1">In '''phase 1'''</span>, the organization would begin research and development while spreading propaganda. They [[wikipedia:Climate change denial|profess opposition]] to the [[wikipedia:Scientific consensus on climate change|scientific consensus on climate change]]; though they admit that [https://slashdot.org/story/12/07/29/127235/koch-bros-study-finds-global-warming-is-real-and-man-made some global warming is anthropogenic], they believe the problem is overstated. (For example, they may mention that [http://arctic.atmos.uiuc.edu/cryosphere/ unlike the Arctic, the Antarctic ice cap is not significantly losing mass and may even be gaining it].<!-- see specifically plots at http://arctic.atmos.uiuc.edu/cryosphere/IMAGES/seaice.anomaly.arctic.png and http://arctic.atmos.uiuc.edu/cryosphere/IMAGES/seaice.anomaly.antarctic.png; these are automatically generated on a monthly(?) basis --> They would make an [[wikipedia:argument from authority|argument from authority]], saying they are [https://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/05/28/global-warming-skeptics-know-more-about-science-new-study-claims/ "smart enough" to know that global warming is not a serious problem].)

They oppose all forms of [[wikipedia:Geoengineering|geoengineering]] on the grounds that they would be too expensive for too much risk and little benefit. Instead, they say, companies should continue tweaking existing [[wikipedia:Renewable energy|renewable energy]] technologies, and individuals should take responsibility for their own impacts by practicing [[wikipedia:Waste minimisation|waste minimization]]. This would free up money to address poverty, hunger, and other socioeconomic causes. (''TODO:'' Mention something about global-warming countermeasures on a smaller scale than geoengineering that nevertheless require fundamental innovation. This may include alternative power sources such as solar and wind power. Also, make some mention of [[wikipedia:Data dredging|data dredging]] as a propaganda tactic: For example, they might [[wikipedia:Cherry picking|cherry-pick]] a few species that would benefit from a rise in temperature, such as by habitat expansion.)

They oppose all forms of [[wikipedia:Geoengineering|geoengineering]] on the grounds that they would be too expensive for too much risk and little benefit. Instead, they say, companies should continue tweaking existing [[wikipedia:Renewable energy|renewable energy]] technologies, and individuals should take responsibility for their own impacts by practicing [[wikipedia:Waste minimisation|waste minimization]]. This would free up money to address poverty, hunger, and other socioeconomic causes. (''TODO:'' Mention something about global-warming countermeasures on a smaller scale than geoengineering that nevertheless require fundamental innovation. This may include alternative power sources such as solar and wind power. Also, make some mention of [[wikipedia:Data dredging|data dredging]] as a propaganda tactic: For example, they might [[wikipedia:Cherry picking|cherry-pick]] a few species that would benefit from a rise in temperature, such as by habitat expansion.)

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== Unsorted TODOs ==

== Unsorted TODOs ==

=== Out-of-universe ===

=== Out-of-universe ===

−

*The [https://web.archive.org/web/20170716170014/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net:80/umihara/umihara.htm old ''Hardcore Gaming 101''], TV Tropes, and [[allthetropes:Umihara Kawase|All the Tropes]] articles mention a manga adaptation, but the link provided by ''HG101'' is dead.

*Consider [[costume blazons|similarities of character design]] with [[wikipedia:Dora the Explorer|Dora "The Explorer"]]<!-- yes, I know there's an accessibility problem right here, which I previously missed; don't know how to fix it though --> [[wikia:dora:Dora Márquez|Márquez]]: [[wikia:dora:Backpack|backpack]] with [[wikipedia:magic satchel|magic satchel]] functionality<!-- NB: my inspiration was partly from a stage production which (roughly speaking) swapped the colors of Dora's shirt and backpack compared to the official character art, making the backpack pink -->; hair shape and color; eye color (but not skin color, strictly speaking). The similarity is more evident with Kawase's [[allthetropes:Graphics Induced Super Deformed|in-game sprites]] than her box-art depiction. See also [https://www.destructoid.com/umihara-kawase-gets-3ds-sequel-and-enormous-boobs-250687.phtml Destructoid comments]<sup>[''dead link'']</sup>, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDrZHRq0K18 Classic Game Room (mini-)review], and comments on a playaround TAS ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NzErZcyOqM obsoleted]<!-- tasvideos: 176M 280S --> and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPM5y86orpY current] versions<!-- 2823M 4646S -->).

*Consider [[costume blazons|similarities of character design]] with [[wikipedia:Dora the Explorer|Dora "The Explorer"]]<!-- yes, I know there's an accessibility problem right here, which I previously missed; don't know how to fix it though --> [[wikia:dora:Dora Márquez|Márquez]]: [[wikia:dora:Backpack|backpack]] with [[wikipedia:magic satchel|magic satchel]] functionality<!-- NB: my inspiration was partly from a stage production which (roughly speaking) swapped the colors of Dora's shirt and backpack compared to the official character art, making the backpack pink -->; hair shape and color; eye color (but not skin color, strictly speaking). The similarity is more evident with Kawase's [[allthetropes:Graphics Induced Super Deformed|in-game sprites]] than her box-art depiction. See also [https://www.destructoid.com/umihara-kawase-gets-3ds-sequel-and-enormous-boobs-250687.phtml Destructoid comments]<sup>[''dead link'']</sup>, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDrZHRq0K18 Classic Game Room (mini-)review], and comments on a playaround TAS ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NzErZcyOqM obsoleted]<!-- tasvideos: 176M 280S --> and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPM5y86orpY current] versions<!-- 2823M 4646S -->).

*While on the subject of YouTube: did someone say that the original ''Umihara Kawase'' looks like something an European Amiga developer could have come up with in the mid-90s? Or am I confused again?

*While on the subject of YouTube: did someone say that the original ''Umihara Kawase'' looks like something an European Amiga developer could have come up with in the mid-90s? Or am I confused again?

Revision as of 01:27, 8 July 2019

WMG

This article contains wild mass guessing, or original research about the settings, characters, or events in a work of fiction.

In brief:
An evil cult tells the public that global warming isn't a problem and that big companies should stop wasting money to prevent it. Actually, they believe that it is a problem, and they would like it to continue until rising sea levels provide justification to aquaticize humanity through genetic engineering. The games depict the training missions of said organization's opponents.

Leaders of the organization are wanted alive, together with some secret documents, and certain dangerously large/powerful "mistakes" from the project are wanted dead.

Other soldiers involved in the mission are using older, bulkier technology. In combat gear, they would resemble the protagonists of the Bionic Commando franchise. They would be unable to jump from ordinary solid ground.

The evil organization's plan

The organization was founded to fulfill a prophecy that "the human race's future lies in the sea." Their secret plan is to genetically engineer humans with aquatic adaptations. Meanwhile, they would allow the melting of polar ice caps to flood a substantial land area, which they believe to be an inevitable consequence of global warming. Then, only the modified humans could survive in (formerly) coastal habitats.

They oppose all forms of geoengineering on the grounds that they would be too expensive for too much risk and little benefit. Instead, they say, companies should continue tweaking existing renewable energy technologies, and individuals should take responsibility for their own impacts by practicing waste minimization. This would free up money to address poverty, hunger, and other socioeconomic causes. (TODO: Mention something about global-warming countermeasures on a smaller scale than geoengineering that nevertheless require fundamental innovation. This may include alternative power sources such as solar and wind power. Also, make some mention of data dredging as a propaganda tactic: For example, they might cherry-pick a few species that would benefit from a rise in temperature, such as by habitat expansion.)

In poorly-educated areas near coal-fired power stations, they would promote electric vehicles, hoping the people would not realize that this actually makes global warming worse. If questioned about this, they might say misleadingly that the power plant is designed for "clean coal."

In phase 2, the organization would create a small community of modified humans to demonstrate their idea to world leaders. They would implement a form of trait-based genetic use restriction technology, selling a drug which their modified humans must consume in order to unlock their full oxygen-handling abilities. (TODO: Specify what physiological attributes are affected ... this includes at least hemoglobin, myoglobin, and neuroglobin production)

Once the sea-level rise becomes an urgent concern, the organization would begin phase 3 and drop the genetic DRM, insincerely apologizing for their past business practices. (They don't expect all major cities to be totally submerged right away; as sea levels rise, some cities would be redesigned to operate like present-day Venice, IJburg, or Giethoorn,[1] except that the modified humans would be expected to swim under their own power rather than relying on boats to transport themselves.) The newly modified humans would then outcompete natural H. sapiens by reproducing normally.

While on the subject of YouTube: did someone say that the original Umihara Kawase looks like something an European Amiga developer could have come up with in the mid-90s? Or am I confused again?

Could the 16:9-safe UI mentioned in this NESdev Wiki edit summary be construed to support the simulation hypothesis? Suppose that the game screen represents a lab technician observing the simulation on a TV monitor.

Which LPer?

I initially remembered incorrectly what azuritereaction said (xe was actually referring to Susie Derkins). ZetaPlays doesn't seem to have said anything about Dora either. It is possible that the video I'm thinking of was by someone other than a "notable" let's-player.

The prototyping of the game's mechanics was done on an X68000 computer. This is not too surprising, although it raises the question as to why Umihara Kawase itself wasn't developed to be an X68000 game. (It was supposedly a decision based on "market" reasons, but was Nintendo of Japan's licensing process as onerous as Nintendo of America's?) Was any programming done on Apple IIGS computers? (TODO: find the forum thread [NESdev?] where it was mentioned that some SNES development team used X68000s for graphic design and IBM-compatible PCs for coding)

A development screenshot of Sayonara Umihara Kawase shows a door numbered 81, but the finished game contains 50 levels numbered contiguously.

Any info on the "mobile phone" game that was supposedly released after the DS game?

Most previous character artwork (see HG101) shows multiple strands of hair sticking up, while the version in the Toshinobu Kondo interview shows only one. What is this meant to imply?

TODO: look over this and this interview, the latter of which suggests that the plot mentioned above may not be officially accurate (was it made up specifically for the manual of one version of the game?)

The cancelled PSP localization and the 3DS game (but not its Vita or Steam re-releases) were titled "Yumi's Odd Odyssey" in North America.

In-universe

Describe any special materials / magical technology used in the fishing rod and backpack. For example, does the "rubber" of the fishing line make use of "hypersteric hindrance" to enhance its strength? (The 3DS game plays right into my theory: some form of time manipulation exists in this universe, though it is unknown exactly what forms of time travel are allowed by this universe's physical constants.)

Is "Umihara Kawase" a code name, much as "James Bond" has been hypothesized to be? Is Yumi (part of) the protagonist's legal name? Caveat: The WMG of multiple Bonds is generally agreed not to be accurate[1][2]. Likewise, the "Umihara Kawase" in the canonical games is probably the first and only person by that name, whether or not it is a code name. Was a Markov chain program involved in the choice of the name?